Hernia pad



April 3, 1951 L. ZARAS 2,547,727

HERNIA PAD Filed Aug. 14, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

1.01715 YARA'S Patented Apr. 3,,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention. relates to hernia belt constructions.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and valuable structure and shape for the pressure applying pad of the device for functioning relative to the weakenedor ruptured muscular part. This pad, as provided by the invention, will below be called the truss pad, to distinguish it per se, from the remainder of the hernia belt construction, since the latter as an entirety is frequently referred to as a truss.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hernia belt construction the belt ele ments of which are connected to the truss pad in a novel and improved manner.

According to the invention, the new truss pad, as to its structure, is composed in the main of balsa wood, and, preferably, of a single block thereof, formed to the new shape proposed by the invention. Balsa wood is not only of exceedingly light weight, as is Well known, but, as I have found, is adapted to be comfortably and sanitarily maintained in direct contact with and under pressure against the human body, either with the wood in its natural state or when coated with a paint, enamel or other like finish or covered with sponge rubber material. As a consequence, expensive leather coverings, and also special paddings, may be wholly dispensed with.

Also, according to the invention, the only addition to the balsa wood. main structure for the truss pad need be a single back plate, this desirably of aluminum for lightness of weight. A feature of the invention is that such plate may be uniplanar.

Another feature of the invention, in connection with the foregoing, is to provide a simple means of attaching to the back of the truss pad the plate last-named, and, at the same time and by the same means, one end of each of two belt straps; the back of the truss pad being preferably longitudinally grooved in a generally up and down direction, for receiving said plate and said strap ends. Further according to the invention, said simple attaching means is such that, while elements thereof are buried in the balsa wood block. to the extent merely'of a partial penetration thereof, at the rear of the block, said elements are securely thus buried despite the familiar weakness of and relatively loose bonding between the balsa wood fibres. I 7

As for the new shape of the truss pad of the invention, a further feature is that said shape issuch that the new hernia belt construction as a whole may be easily and quickly applied to the body of a hernia sufferer, and yet so as to have the truss pad at a in a special engagement with the groin adjacent region of the body, with this engagement a distinct under-hooking one. Despite this special engagement, however, the upper portion of the pad, this for applying the desired pressure at the anatomical location needing to be thus served, may be variously shifted for optimum alleviative or curative behavior.

For further comprehension of the invention,

and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in whichthe various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hernia belt having a truss pad formed in accordance with the present invention.

' Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the truss pad looking at the front side thereof.

Fig. 3 is a rear perspective view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the plate, per se.

Referring first to drawings, the truss pad here shown is illustrated as comprised of a single block 10 of balsa Wood, shaped at its upper portion to have a substantially fiat top II. This flat top H, for acting directly at the hernia location, is parallel with the substantially fiat bottom I2 of the block ill, and is of an outline resembling that of the sole of a military-type walking shoe from the forward end of the latter down along about two-thirds of the length thereof. Said outline, on the block l i), has a bottom limit corresponding to the line It. The general direction of upward longitudinal extension of the block I0 is oblique, whereas the line I i is substantially horizontal.

The outline of the surface l0 may be defined, then, as generally obliquely upwardly inclined, with a substantially horizontal bottom limit, and with the remainder of its boundary pursuant to a curvilinear line so extending that the shape of the surface It is suggestive of an obliquely projected horn with a fairly widely rounded upper end.

The block ill, below the line It, is laterally cut away to provide a laterally extended recess l5, the major central floor area It of which is substantially flat and parallel with the back l2 of the block, the upper end of which is concavely lower portion thereof 3 rounded as at H, and the lower end of which is similarly rounded as at H3. The lower formation of the block is such as to provide a heel [9 at the bottom thereof. It is also to be noted that, laterally of the block, the roundings l1 and I8 converge in the same direction in which the surface II is canted away from the general vertical upward extension of the block. By virtue of these formations, it has been found, the recess 15 allows entirely comfortable engagement of the lower portion of the block ll] with the groin of the wearer and with the heel 19' booked in below the flesh mass at the crotch at a side of the scrotum, and then with all the advantages aforesaid.

As will be understood from what has already been pointed out, the block I is for use with-a hernia belt when such block is applied as just described at the left side of thescr'otum'; where'- as a reversed but similar block is provided for use when the new truss pad is to be applied as described; but at the right side of the scrotum. The similar block is in all respects like the block it], except that the two blocks-are of opposite hand.

The block It, for securement thereto as aforesaid of two strap ends, together with the rear plate 22 of aluminum or the like, is at its back provided with a groove 2|. The plate 22 is fiat, but in outline shaped to fit in the groove 2|. When reversed, this plate fits in the groove of the similar block referred to supra.

The hernia belt comprises a horizontal waist girthing strap 23, and'a vertical trans-crotch strap 24. The strap 23 has a buckle or slideplate element 25 adapted to be connected with a button 26 projected from the back of the block It! at its upper portion. The element 25 is slidable along the strap 23 to adapt the belt to different waist sizes. The upper rear end of the strap 24 is desirably securable to a buckle 21 or the like suspended from a slip-loop 28 on the belt 23.

As indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, the groove 2| may be made of slightly greater depth near the upper and lower ends of the block 10,101 reception in said groove at the upper end of the block of an end portion of the strap 23 and for reception in said groove at the'lower end of the block of an end portion of the strap 24fyet to allow the plate 22 to be placed in' said grove with the outer face of'the plate substantially flush with the bottom 12 of the block Thus, the end portions of the straps 23 and 24 are clamped in place between the back of the block [0 and the plate 22.

Any suitable means may be used for securing said strap ends and the plate 22 to the back of the block [0; As here shown, such means comprises four studs 3!], plain, or, preferably, milled, knurled, threaded or otherwise of uneven cylindricity, sent through apertures 29 in the plate, and suitably locked in the body of the block, as by thickly coating the shanks of said studs with a cellulose lacquer or other material self-settin to hardness on drying but before dryin absorbable by balsa wood, and then inserting the studs through the apertures 29 and into preformed well-like recesses 35 in the block l0, One of the studs 30, see particularly Fig. 4, carries at its outer end the button 26. When the studs are threaded, and have kerfed outer ends, they may deliberately be removed, by unscrewing, asto renew a worn strap.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is'to be 4. understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a hernia belt construction, a truss pad comprising a main body formed of balsa wood, said body having a bottom 'heel shaped for distinct under-hooking engagement with the crotch of a wearer at one side of the scrotum, said body being vertically elongated and above said heel being laterally recessed for there fitting about a flesh mass at said crotch location, the upper portionof the block at the side thereof having said recess being substantially flat, said block at its outer side having a groove extending from top to'bottorri thereof, and a flat plate of aluminum or similarly light weight material, said plate being in said groove and secured to said block.

2. In a hernia belt construction, a truss'pad comprising a main body formed of balsa wood, said body having a bottom heel shaped'for dis--' tinct under-hooking engagement with the crotch of a wearer at one side of the scrotum, said body being vertically elongated and above said h'eel being laterally recessed for there fitting about a flesh mass at said crotchlocation, the upper 'portion of the block at the side thereof having said recess being substantially flat, sai'd block at its outer side having a grooveextending'from top to bottom thereof, and a flat plate 'of aluminum or similarly light weight material, said plate being in said groove and secured to said block'for having the ends of pad supporting straps secured between said pad and said plate.

3; In a hernia belt construction, a truss pad comprising a main body formed of balsa wood, said body having a bottom heel shaped fordistinct under-hooking engagement with the crotch of a wearer at one'side of the scrotum, said body being vertically elongated and above said heel being laterally recessed for there fitting about a. flesh mass atsaid crotch location the upper p'or tion of the block at theside thereof having recess being substantially flat, said block 'at its outer side having a groove ektending from top to bottom thereof, and'a flat plate of aluminum of similarly light weight material, said plate being insaid groove and secured to said block for l'laving the ends of pad supporting straps secured between said pad and said'plate, and means securing said plate to the block being stud-like elements passing through said plate and buried in the block fora distance less than the thickness of the block.

'4.'I n a hernia belt construction, a truss pad comprisinga main body formedof balsa Wood, said body having a bottom heel shaped for tinct under-hooking engagement with the crotch 'o'fja wearer at one side of the scrotum, saidbody bein wanen elongated and, above said. heel lq i s laterally recessedfor there fittingabouta flt la a d rates l ca i n he u pe pa tio'n of the block at the side thereof having said recess being substantially flat, saidblock'at its o avin 9Qi Xi s ins 9m p o. bottom thereof, and a fiatplate of aluminum or similarly light weight material, said plate being in said groove andsecnred to said block for havn f h n di l pprtine t apssecured between said pad andsaid plateyandmeaniseg curing said plate to the block being stud-like elements passing through said plate and buried in the block for a distance less than the thickness of the block, and an addition to the block at the stud locations of a material in liquefied form and which sets to hardness on drying and which is absorbable by the balsa wood.

5. In a hernia belt construction, a truss pad comprising a main body formed of balsa wood, said body having a bottom heel shaped for distinct under-hooking engagement with the crotch of a wearer at one side of the scrotum, said body being vertically elongated and above said heel being laterally recessed for there fitting about a flesh mass at said crotch location the upper portion of the block at the side thereof having said recess being substantially fiat, said block at its outer side having a groove extending from top,

to bottom thereof, and a fiat plate of aluminum or similarly light weight material, said plate being in said groove and secured to'said block for having the ends of pad supporting straps secured between said pad and said plate, and means securing said plate to the block being stud-like elements passing through said plate and buried in the block for a distance less than the thickness of the block, and an addition to the block at the stud locations of a material in liquefied form and which sets to hardness on drying and which is absorbable by the balsa wood, said studs having shank portions of uneven cylindricity.

6. In a hernia belt construction, a truss pad comprising a main body formed of balsa wood, said body having a bottom heel shaped for distinct under-hooking engagement with the crotch of a wearer at one side of the scrotum, said body being vertically elongated and above said heel being laterally recessed for there fitting about a flesh mass at said crotch location the upper portion of the block at the side thereof having said recess being substantially flat, said block at its outer side having a groove extending from top to bottom thereof, and a fiat plate of aluminum or similarly light weight material, said plate being in said groove and secured to said block for having the ends of pad supporting straps secured between said pad and said plate, and means securing said plate to the block being stud-like elements passing through said plate and buried in the block for a distance less than the thickness of the block, and an addition to the block at the stud locations of a material in liquefied form and which sets to hardness on drying and which is absorbable by the balsa wood, said studs having threaded shank portions.

LOUIS ZARAS.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 174,862 Shattuck Mar. 14, 1876 329,682 Schmitt Nov. 3, 1885 703,847 Stewart July 1, 1902 1,273,592 Embree July 23, 1918 I 

